NSW Health has made a public appeal to NSW residents to be wary of alarmist reporting on the spread of novel coronavirus, dispelling five common myths about the virus.
Chief Health Officer at NSW Health, Kerry Chant said there had been multiple incorrect and alarmist social media posts regarding the spread and severity of the disease, prompting NSW Health to remind all residents to fact check.
“I ask the public to be aware of the facts about the novel coronavirus and take a moment to investigate unverified claims before they share them with others,” Dr Chant said.
“While there is still much to be learned about this strain, the illness appears less severe than SARS or MERS, and many people with the disease may have a mild illness,” she said.
Dr Chant said NSW Health was keen to dispel common myths about the virus including that people should avoid Chinatown and suburbs with high Chinese-Australian populations.
“While four cases have been diagnosed in NSW to date, patients have been isolated until no longer infectious,” she said.
“There is no evidence that community transmission is occurring in NSW.”
She said the following myths about novel coronavirus were also false: novel coronavirus could be caught from an imported package of food; garlic and sesame oil protect against the virus; the virus has mutated into a more lethal strain; and the virus could be caught from pets.
Further NSW Health information on the virus can be accessed at this PS News link.
